Kaleidoscope Eyes

by Karen Ball

  Pity one didn’t always get what one needed.

  Andy didn’t even break stride. He followed him right into the bathroom. “Jed? What’s going on? Did something happen?”

  Jed planted his hands on the counter and stared at his reflection in the mirror. Just stared. Hard.

  “Oh, no.”

  His eyes closed at Andy’s hushed exclamation.

  “Ah, Jed. Tell me you didn’t do what I think you did. Tell me you didn’t go that far … ”

  Enough! Jed turned, letting his pointed glare speak for him.

  Andy didn’t flinch. Just met his glare head-on with one of his own. “Annie Justice is a nice woman. A good woman. She doesn’t deserve what you’re doing.”

  Jed turned up the glare.

  “Okay, okay, fine.” Andy took a step back out of the bathroom. “I understand. Sometimes you just gotta be alone with your thoughts.”

  Jed slammed the door in his buddy’s sanctimonious face. But the door couldn’t shield him from Andy’s voice.

  “And your guilt.”

  When Jed came out of the bathroom, he walked over to Andy’s equipment.

  “Hey, don’t touch the merchandise.”

  “Is this everything you’ve taped so far?”

  Andy stood, ever protective of his gear. “Yeah, that’s it. Why?” Hope sparked in his eyes. “You change your mind?”

  “Do you remember that guy we worked with a few years ago? He moved out here to take a job at the local TV station? You guys were pretty good buds.”

  The hope dimmed. “Sure. Vince Caruthers. Why?”

  “Because I want to go see him tomorrow.”

  “And again I ask, why?”

  “To talk him into letting us use their editing equipment. Think hell do that?”

  “Probably—”

  Jed’s glare stopped the Why? he knew was coming. “We’re going to take a look at what you’ve got so far and put together a clip to send to Silas.”

  The dark clouds returned to Andy’s brow. “You think that’s smart, huh?”

  “I think it’ll keep him excited about the project.”

  For one blessed moment, Andy was silent. “You’re heading down a bad road, bud.”

  “It’s the road that will take us where we want to be, Andy.”

  The sadness in his friend’s eyes almost convinced him he should listen to him.

  Almost.

  But a voice deep inside reminded him why he’d done all this in the first place. All that he’d lose if he didn’t push forward.

  And that voice, by far, was the most persuasive.

  TWENTY-FOUR

  “I trust everyone. I just don’t trust the devil inside them.”

  TROY KENNEDY-MARTIN

  “What a difference between our sin and

  God’s generous gift of forgiveness.”

  ROMANS 5:15

  OCTOBER 10—A SILVER LACE DAY (SILVER)

  3:30 p.m.

  “I am persuaded you’ve abandoned your calling.”

  “Killie, do we have to talk about this right now? I’m up to my elbows in ground meat.”

  “Good heavens, whatever for?”

  “Burgers, Killian. I’m having guests for dinner, and I’m making burgers.”

  “What?”

  Annie almost dropped the phone from where she had it pinned between her ear and her shoulder. “Killie! You’re going to break my eardrum.”

  “You’re entertaining? Why aren’t you in your studio, working on that window? You said you finally knew what to do with it—”

  “Because I do.”

  “That the concept was coming together.”

  She let out a huff. “Because it is.”

  “So why are you wasting time with guests? That window won’t create itself, Annie. I swear, this irresponsible streak of yours is just getting worse. It’s that search and rescue foolishness, that’s what it is.”

  Irritation wasn’t something Annie felt often, especially with Killian. But it hit her then, quick and heated. “This has nothing to do with search and rescue, and you know it.”

  “No, I don’t. Ever since you went on that last search, you’ve been distracted. What else could be pulling your attention away from your work like this?”

  She started to tell him he was wrong, to deny being distracted, but the words died on her lips. Because Killian was right. She was distracted. But it wasn’t search and rescue.

  It was Jed.

  She’d been spending time with him rather than in her studio. And when she was in her studio, even when she was working on the window, his image filled her mind. “Oh … ”

  “See?” Killian’s triumph rang out. “You have to admit I’m right, don’t you?”

  “No.”

  “Annie, don’t be stubborn. You just said—”

  “Killian, stop.”

  He did, but she heard the frustrated exhalation as he did so. Unfortunately, she had the feeling that hearing what was really distracting her wouldn’t make him any happier.

  “It’s not search and rescue. It’s … well … ”

  “Yes?”

  His impatience zinged through the phone lines, slicing through any desire on her part to be tactful about this. “It’s a man, Killie.”

  Silence.

  “I’ve met someone. Someone who—” her heart trembled at the admission she was making—“has come to mean a great deal to me. He’s been the distraction. Nothing else.”

  She waited for his response, but he didn’t say a word. She strained to hear. He was still breathing, wasn’t he? Had he passed out?

  “Well. So. A man.”

  A flicker of apprehension coursed through her. He sounded so distant. So—controlled.

  “I owe you an apology Annie. I misunderstood.”

  Okay Things were fine. He understood what she was saying and accepted it.

  “I thought your art was important to you. I apologize for being such a fool.”

  Okaaay … maybe accepted wasn’t the right word.

  “Killian.”

  “No. It’s fine. Really. I was foolish enough to believe the only thing that could pull you away from your true calling was your absurd fascination with finding lost people.”

  Absurd fascination? “Killie … ”

  The warning in her tone didn’t seem to faze him one iota. In fact, if anything it added fuel to the fire. “First you let these crazy e-mails and letters distract you, and now you say you’ve met a man.”

  Whoa. “How do you know about the e-mails?”

  “Your brother told me.”

  Annie shook her head. What? Since when did Dan confide in Killian? “When?”

  “When he … when I ran into him in town the other day He just mentioned it in passing. It’s not important.”

  “Of course it is.”

  “Fine. You want to get caught up in some mystery, go ahead. You want to get married and grow fat having babies. Fine! Now that I know art is just something you do when it’s convenient—”

  “Killian Alba Molan, shut up!”

  He did so. Probably because Annie had never yelled at him before.

  When she could speak past her anger, she did her best to sound calm. “I’m going to set the phone down for a second. Don’t hang up. I’ll be right back.”

  She didn’t wait to see if he did as she asked. She just leaned close to the counter and let the phone drop there. Then she swatted the kitchen faucet with her elbow, washed her hands and dried them, the motions quick and abrupt.

  When her hands were clean—and her pulse had slowed to a more normal rhythm—she lifted the phone to her ear. “Are you still there?”

  “Your wish is my command.”

  At the hint of a smile in the words, relief eased the tension in her neck and shoulders. “I’m sorry I yelled.”

  “I’m sorry I was a jerk.”

  “Me too.”

  “You too what? You’re sorry you were a jerk as well, or that I was a
jerk?”

  Her lips twitched. “Yes.”

  He laughed. “Fair enough. Look, Annie, I’m happy for you. You just … took me by surprise, that’s all. I didn’t know. And I confess I was a little hurt that you have this—this person—”

  “His name is Jed.”

  “—this Jed person in your life now and you didn’t tell me.”

  She drew circles on the counter with a finger. “I know. I’m sorry, Killie. Things have been kind of crazy.”

  “Just tell me you’re being careful. You know. About those notes.”

  Her heart warmed. “I am.”

  “And please tell me you’re working on the piece.”

  “I promise you, I am.” Not as often as she should, but that would change.

  “Good. Thank you. Now I’ll leave you in peace. Go grill your dead meat.”

  “Hamburgers.”

  “A delectable treat, I’m sure. One that chickens and turkeys worldwide will praise to the skies.”

  Annie grinned. “Killie, you’re a nut.”

  “Which is why you love me.”

  That it is, Annie thought as she hung up. That it is.

  4:30 p.m.

  God, what a gift you’ve given me.

  Annie stood in her backyard next to the grill, watching her family tease each other, listening to the harmonies of their laughter. Lord, I can never thank You enough for blessing me with these special people. So many families struggle to get along. But mine is so comfortable together.

  A shadow flitted through her heart, its whispers all-too familiar. Pity you’re not like the rest of them. That you so often watch them from the sidelines of the gathering. Like now …

  She pushed the thoughts away. She wasn’t watching from the sidelines at all. She had a job. Overseeing hamburgers on the grill, ensuring they were cooked just right. Medium-well for Jayce, shoe-leather well for Dan, just this side of medium for Shelby, and for Annie? She licked her lips. Cooked just enough to brown the outside, but leave the inside nice and rare.

  She liked her burgers to moo when she bit into them.

  Yet another way in which you’re different.

  Annie was just about to tell the whispers to shut up when a deep voice drifted over her shoulder. “You are one lucky duck, sis.”

  Annie turned from the grill and pursed her lips at her brother. “Why? Because I cook such yummy burgers? No, wait, that’d make you a lucky duck since I’m cooking them for you.”

  “Burgers schmurgers. You’re lucky you’ve got me to watch out for you, of course.”

  She turned back to the dismissed patties. “No argument from me on that.”

  Her suddenly somber tone pulled a frown from him. “Did you get another note?”

  “No, thank heaven.” Annie sprinkled seasoned salt on the burgers. “No notes, and according to you, no e-mails.” She slanted a questioning look his way. “Any ideas who my pen pal is?”

  Dan’s gaze grew guarded. “Not really We’ve been checking some things out, but so far we haven’t found anything conclusive. Who knows? Maybe the perp’s moved on.”

  “I hope so.”

  Dan rubbed her back, his touch comforting. “Don’t worry, Annie. We’re keeping a file of everything. And we’re keeping an eye on you too.”

  She smiled at that. “You can see me from Sanctuary? Now that’s some kind of eyesight.”

  “I didn’t say I was keeping an eye on you, brat. I said we were.”

  “And who might we be?”

  “Good men. And that’s all you need to know.” He watched her slide the spatula under her burger and lift it to the plate. “That’s not done enough.”

  She shrugged him away “It is for me.”

  “Livin’ dangerously, kid.”

  “Thus speaks the man whose job requires him to wear a gun.”

  “Thus speaks the man who knows better than to consume raw meat … or to take up with a total stranger.”

  Ah, so that’s what this was about. She turned to face him. “Dan, Jed is only a stranger because you haven’t met him yet. Didn’t Jayce tell you he was a nice guy?”

  “Jayce is a sharp kid, but he’s still a kid.” Dan crossed his arms over his chest. “You, on the other hand, are seasoned enough—”

  “Seasoned?” This horrified reaction came from Shelby, who’d just come to join them. “What a terrible thing to say!”

  Dan didn’t let his wife derail his train of thought. He just tugged Shelby into his arms, resting his chin on her head as he finished. “—to know better. Come on, Annie. What do you really know about this man?”

  “Oh! Annie! The burgers are getting burned.”

  “They aren’t the only ones,” she muttered, turning at Shelby’s warning and lowering the flames.

  A hand settled on her shoulder. “Sis, you know I want you to be happy.”

  Her anger fizzled. “I know.”

  “I just want you to be careful too.”

  “I hate to say I agree with this big lug,” Shelby added. “But I do worry sometimes that you trust too easily, Annie.”

  Another country heard from.

  It wasn’t that Annie didn’t appreciate their concern. She did. Truly. But she wished they’d at least wait until they met Jed before judging him.

  As though sounding an agreement, the doorbell chimed. Annie lifted her gaze to Dan’s. “Judge him for yourself, bro. He’s here.”

  Dan glanced at the house. “So go let Mr. Wonderful in.”

  Shelby put her hands on her hips. “Avidan Justice, don’t you—either of you—” she expanded the glare to Jayce—’“dare call him that. Remember, he is your sister’s friend and this is her home.”

  Dan’s hands went up. “I surrender. Really. I’ll behave.”

  Yeah right. Like Annie believed that for a second. Especially when she heard her big brother mutter as she walked away, “Let the games begin.”

  Jed stood on the front stoop and went through the drill again.

  What is the plan? To get Annie on the show. Why are you here? You are here for a purpose. How will you achieve that purpose? Keep your distance; stay focused.

  After that episode in the woods, Jed had stayed clear of Annie for the rest of the weekend, steeling his resolve. When she called him this morning, inviting him over for a barbecue with her family, he knew it was a bad idea.

  So why did he agree to come?

  Good question.

  Still, now was as good a time as any to put himself to the test. He would not weaken. Would not let emotions blur the lines here. He’d hold fast to the wisdom of William:

  “And this word ‘love,’ which graybeards call divine,

  Be resident in men like one another

  And not in me: I am myself alone.”

  I am myself alone.

  Bingo.

  Now if he could just remember that.

  A sweet fragrance caught him, and Jed looked again at the flowers lining the walk to Annie’s front door. It looked like one of those English gardens they showed on the travel channel. There were even little benches for sitting and enjoying the beauty and a pond complete with cattails.

  Clearly this was the home of an artist.

  It wasn’t just the flowers that showed that either. Jed turned back to the stained glass insert in the door before him. He’d been fascinated when she told him about her art. Even made her promise to show him her studio, where she created. Too bad he couldn’t sneak Andy in here with him …

  He fingered the textured glass, imagining her hands holding it, shaping it. Did Annie make this? It’s really—

  The door opened, and she stood there, welcome lighting her eyes and smile.

  —beautiful.

  He followed Annie inside, looking around her home as they walked through. Warm. Welcoming. Creative. Just like the woman herself.

  “That’s quite a garden you’ve got out there.”

  She glanced over her shoulder. “You like it?”

  “It’s beaut
iful. Your color choices really work well together.”

  There was pleasure and playfulness in her grin. “Of course they do. They’re my colors.”

  Ah, yes. The synesthesia. She’d told him about that. He’d gone back to the hotel to research it and found it was like everything else about Annie.

  Utterly fascinating.

  She headed for a sliding glass door. “We’re out in the back and the food’s almost ready. Some come on out.”

  Jed started to follow her, then froze. What … ?

  Annie glanced back at him, then followed his stunned gaze. She came to pat Jed’s arm. “It’s okay. That’s my brother.”

  “Your brother is a sheriff.”

  “Sheriff’s deputy, actually.” Pride and love were evident in her tone, which she raised a notch as she looked at her brother, who’d stepped inside and met his stare. “And don’t let the glower worry you. He thinks he has to give you the third degree to make sure you’re not some kind of closet crazy man.”

  Glower was an understatement. The man scrutinized Jed like he was some kind of escaped convict or a suspected serial killer. Good thing he hadn’t done anything to earn this man’s ire.

  Right Nothing but lie to his sister. I’m sure that wouldn’t bother him a bit.

  Shivers crawled up Jed’s spine, then scampered back down.

  “I thought you were going to change out of your uniform now that you’re off duty.”

  Dan didn’t look at Annie. He kept his focus fixed on Jed. “That’s what I came inside to do.”

  “Hmm.” Her skepticism was thick. “Right when Jed arrives, huh? My, my, will coincidences never end?” She sighed and turned back to Jed. “Meet my big brother, Dan Justice. Dan, this is Jed … ”

  When she hesitated, Jed looked down at Annie and found twin spots of red in her cheeks. A condition that only worsened when her brother arched a brow at her.

  “You were saying?” Though Dan’s question was directed at Annie, his steely gaze had shifted to rest on Jed.

  “Um,…” Annie grabbed Jed’s shirt front and tugged him down to hiss in his ear. “Quick! What’s your last name?”

  “Cur—uh, no, wait.” Why hadn’t he thought up a name before now? Then it would’ve been ready when he needed it. And he wouldn’t be standing here, looking like the proverbial deer in the headlights.